I wot not if ye will reward it according to the prayer of him who does
it."

They said, "Why deemest thou us such shameful men as that we should
reward that deed but with good?"

Quoth he, "I may try this if so be that ye think much lies on it, but
my mind bids me hope to get nought of good thereby."

They said that that should never be, and bade all hail to his words;
and thereafter Grettir made ready for swimming, and cast his clothes
from off him; of clothes he had on but a cape and sail-cloth breeches;
he girt up the cape and tied a bast-rope strongly round his middle,
and had with him a cask; then he leaped overboard; he stretched across
the sound, and got aland.

There he saw a house stand, and heard therefrom the talk of men, and
much clatter, and therewith he turned toward that house.

Now is it to be said of those that were there before, that here were
come the sons of Thorir, as is aforesaid; they had lain there many
nights, and bided there the falling of the gale, that they might
have wind at will to go north, beyond Stead. They had set them down
a-drinking, and were twelve men in all; their ship rode in the main
haven, and they were at a house of refuge for such men to guest in, as
went along the coast.

Much straw had been borne into the house, and there was a great fire
on the floor; Grettir burst into the house, and wotted not who was
there before; his cape was all over ice when he came aland, and he